Mar. 29: Leafs 1 vs. Flyers 7

(Jussi Rynnas makes his first career start)
Leafs scorers: Grabovski (23)
Flyers scorers: Schenn 2 (11), Simmonds 2 (25), Read (23), Wellwood (5), Voracek (15),
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:: MacArthur-Bozak-Kessel, Ashton-Lombardi-Armstrong, Connolly-Grabovski-Crabb, Frattin-Brown-Rosehill
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Gunnarsson, Gardiner-Franson, Liles-Schenn
Goaltenders: Rynnas (Loss, 59:31 minutes played, 23 saves 7 GA) Gustavsson (0:00)

Recap:
When Clarke MacArthur accidentally knocked Jonas Gustavsson out of action during the pre-game warm up, it was an ominous sign of a long evening ahead for the Maple Leafs.

The way that the Toronto players indifferently skated through an embarrassing 7-1 defeat to Philadelphia on Thursday night, it’s unlikely that having the Monster in net would have made a difference in the final result.

It was not the way that 24-year-old Jussi Rynnas would have scripted his first career NHL start, summoned in the wake of Gustavsson and James Reimer’s injuries. Had the players in front of him displayed even an ounce of emotion, the mood at Air Canada Centre may have been less funereal.

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Mar. 27: Leafs 0 vs. Carolina 3

(Gustavsson pulled after forgettable outing)
Leafs scorers: (none)
Hurricanes scorers: Jokinen (12), Brent (12), Harrison (9)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:: Ashton-Bozak-Kessel, MacArthur-Grabovski-Frattin,
Connolly-Steckel-Crabb, Brown-Lombardi-Rosehil
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Gunnarsson, Gardiner-Franson, Liles-Schenn

Goaltenders: Gustavsson (Loss, 20:37 minutes played, 9 saves 3 GA) Rynnas (39:23 minutes played, 10 saves 0 GA)

Recap:
The season wasn’t supposed to end like this.

Not after the Leafs temporarily silenced their most vocal critics for over half a season, compiling 62 points in 53 games.

Not after trumping the Oilers 6-3 on February 6 at Air Canada Centre to bump their record to 28-19-6, just four points off the division lead.

Sadly for Leafs fans, the past fifty days have been an unmitigated disaster, culminating a 3-0 defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes. The loss officially eliminated Toronto from playoff contention.
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Mar. 24: Leafs 3 vs. Rangers 4 (SO)

(Connolly’s game-tying goal gets Toronto one point)
Leafs scorers: Franson (5), Crabb (10), Connolly (12)
Rangers scorers: Gaborik 2 (37), Dubinsky (9), shootout winner – Callahan
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:: Ashton-Bozak-Kessel, Kadri-Grabovski-Hamilton, Connolly-Steckel-Crabb, Armstrong-Lombardi-Rosehil
Defence pairings: Gardiner-Phaneuf, Gunnarsson-Franson, Liles-Schenn
Goaltenders: Gustavsson (Loss, 64:29 minutes played, 30 saves 3 GA) Reimer (0:00)

Recap:
Where has this effort been from the Leafs, since the second week of February?

In particular, why haven’t the patrons at Air Canada Centre – who pay the highest ticket prices in the league – bore any witness to a sense of commitment from the players they shelled out their dollars to see, prior to Saturday night’s game?

From the first row platinum seats to the last row purples, Toronto fans have gotten accustomed to a squad led by either Randy Carlyle or Ron Wilson mail in (shall we say Fedex?) the two points, resulting in a home winless streak that has now reached nine games.

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Mar. 23: Leafs 4 at Devils 3 (SO)

((Kadri wins game with some nifty shootout moves)
Leafs scorers: Bozak (16), Kadri (5), Steckel (8), shootout winner – Kadri
Devils scorers: Josefson (1), Parise (29), Henrique (16)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:: Lombardi-Bozak-Kessel, Kadri-Grabovski-Hamilton, Connolly-Steckel-Crabb, Ashton-Rosehill
Defence pairings: Gardiner-Phaneuf, Gunnarsson-Franson, Liles-Schenn, Komisarek
Goaltenders: Reimer (Win, 65:00 minutes played, 43 saves 3 GA) Gustavsson (0:00)

Recap:
I had Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” stuck in my head last night. Watching the Leafs lose the battle at centre, the lyrics “Why am I soft in the middle when the rest of my life is so hard” took on new meaning for me. In spite of this, the Leafs managed to scrape out an undeserved win at the Prudential Center against the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in a shootout.

Before tonight’s game the Leafs had four wins in their last 21 games. Let that sink in for a second. If they could have just managed .500 hockey in that stretch they would be in a playoff spot now and we wouldn’t have to endure another round of Tank Nation.
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